And--what's this? Paul! Something's up! Here they
come--Mr. and Mrs. Inca and all the children!"
I sprang hastily to my feet and stood by Harry's side. He was
right.
Through the half darkness they came, hundreds of them, and, as
always, in utter silence. Dimly we could see their forms huddled
together round us on every side, leaving us in the center of a
small circle in their midst.
"Now, what the deuce do they want?" I muttered. "Can't they let
us eat in peace?"
Harry observed: "Wasn't I right? 'Most awful vile!'"
I think we both felt that we were joking in the face of death.
The forms surrounding us stood silent for perhaps ten seconds.
Then four of their number stepped forward to us, and one made
gestures with a hairy arm, pointing to our rear. We turned and
saw a narrow lane lined on either side by our captors. Nothing
was distinct; still we could see well enough to guess their
meaning.
"It's up to us to march," said Harry.
I nodded.
"And step high, Hal; it may be our last one. If we only had our
knives! But there are thousands of 'em."
"But if it comes to the worst--"
"Then--I'm with you. Forward!"
We started, and as we did so one of the four who had approached
darted from behind and led the way.
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